Southampton researchers explore potential new treatment for Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

Researchers at the University of Southampton’s Faculty of Medicine are investigating a potential new treatment for dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss.

Dr Arjuna Ratnayaka and his team have partnered with Cognition Therapeutics to investigate the effectiveness of an experimental Alzheimer’s treatment in repairing important cell functions in the retina. Dr Ratnayaka’s collaboration with Cognition Therapeutics began several years ago when he was invited to contribute his expertise in retinal disease.

Dry AMD is a progressive eye condition that gradually damages the macula—the part of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision. As cells in the macula die, vision becomes increasingly blurred and distorted. There is currently no cure, making research like this essential in the search for new treatments.

Building on Cognition Therapeutics’ previous studies, this research explored how a sigma-2 receptor modulator (CT1812) affects retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, which are crucial for maintaining vision by clearing waste from photoreceptors. In cases of dry AMD, this process becomes impaired, causing RPE cells to die and worsening vision.

“We exposed RPE cells to amyloid beta oligomers and oxidative stress—two factors known to contribute to the disease. When treated with CT1812, the damaged cells regained their ability to function normally, suggesting the drug could help treat dry AMD,” explained Dr Ratnayaka. The experiments were carried out by Dr Eloise Keeling, a postdoctoral researcher in the group.

Dr Mary Hamby, Cognition Therapeutic's VP of Research, explained: “We analysed cerebrospinal fluid samples from studies of CT1812 in adults with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease. From this, we found that treatment with CT1812 altered proteins and pathways strongly associated with macular degeneration. These findings support the potential of CT1812 to impact pathways impaired in retinal diseases.”

This research highlights a promising new use for an existing drug. “A key advantage of CT1812 is that it has been shown to be well-tolerated in several clinical trials,” said Dr Ratnayaka. “This represents an important step toward repurposing an approved drug for a much-needed application in ophthalmology.”

For more details, read the full study in Nature Scientific Reports.